Wow, I made my first batch of yogurt!
By Loverbear
@Loverbear (4918)
United States
November 13, 2012 12:13pm CST
I have to preface the statement with I had found a new yogurt company with an outstanding yogurt, it was smooth, creamy, and had a layer of cream at the top. But I couldn't always find it at the grocery store. 
So I decided to get a yogurt maker and make my own.
Finding a yogurt maker in itself is a big undertaking. If you want a brand new one you can't find them in the store. So I hit Ebay and found a brand new one that was vintage. The person selling it received it as a gift and never used it. So, I got it for a fraction of what you would spend in the store (if you could find a store that hand yogurt makers on hand!)
Saturday I screwed up my courage and decided to try making a batch of yogurt. I followed the directions to the letter and cooked the batch a little longer than prescribed. There are three settings for the yogurt depending on how thick and tangy you want the yogurt. I like mine milder and a bit soupy.
Well, after 6 hours I turned off the maker and placed the yogurt in the fridge. It had to sit and cool in the fridge for 4 hours. It seemed like forever but FINALLY it was ready to try. I carefully pried off the lid, gingerly dipped the spoon into the container and scooped up a small amount on the spoon. I slowly raised the spoon to my mouth, worrying if the stuff would be any good or if I was going to finally kill myself off with my own cooking....and I slipped the spoon into my apprehensive mouth. Suddenly it was like the fourth of July, fireworks went off, my brain swirled with unexpected reactions, my taste buds danced a jig...the stuff was delicious!!! Home made yogurt is nothing like you buy in the store!!!! It is so smooth, and it isn't like sucking a lemon! Home made yogurt is more like eating a dessert than eating something healthy for you!!! I can't wait to make my next batch, I may try making chocolate yogurt next.
Have you ever tried making something totally new, like making yogurt, and found it so totally unbelievably good that you can't wait to make some more? Or did you try something and have it fail miserably?
So I decided to get a yogurt maker and make my own.
Finding a yogurt maker in itself is a big undertaking. If you want a brand new one you can't find them in the store. So I hit Ebay and found a brand new one that was vintage. The person selling it received it as a gift and never used it. So, I got it for a fraction of what you would spend in the store (if you could find a store that hand yogurt makers on hand!)
Saturday I screwed up my courage and decided to try making a batch of yogurt. I followed the directions to the letter and cooked the batch a little longer than prescribed. There are three settings for the yogurt depending on how thick and tangy you want the yogurt. I like mine milder and a bit soupy.
Well, after 6 hours I turned off the maker and placed the yogurt in the fridge. It had to sit and cool in the fridge for 4 hours. It seemed like forever but FINALLY it was ready to try. I carefully pried off the lid, gingerly dipped the spoon into the container and scooped up a small amount on the spoon. I slowly raised the spoon to my mouth, worrying if the stuff would be any good or if I was going to finally kill myself off with my own cooking....and I slipped the spoon into my apprehensive mouth. Suddenly it was like the fourth of July, fireworks went off, my brain swirled with unexpected reactions, my taste buds danced a jig...the stuff was delicious!!! Home made yogurt is nothing like you buy in the store!!!! It is so smooth, and it isn't like sucking a lemon! Home made yogurt is more like eating a dessert than eating something healthy for you!!! I can't wait to make my next batch, I may try making chocolate yogurt next.
Have you ever tried making something totally new, like making yogurt, and found it so totally unbelievably good that you can't wait to make some more? Or did you try something and have it fail miserably?4 people like this
10 responses
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
14 Nov 12
whoo hoooooooot! Yogurt so yummy in thai word, "aroy maak" and in Filipino word "ang sarap sarap". Congratulations maybe you can make a good business out of that. you are very very good. I wonder how their tastes are. Hmmm.. Have I tried something totally new? This mylotting seems new to me, on my third day actually. and so far I am enjoying it. cooking or preparing something, I can't i have nothing in my house and i dont like to buy since I will be moving to another place in April. Glad you made it!!! Cheers.
@GardenGerty (160708)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I make my own yogurt all the time, or rather, I make yogurt for the cats and I. It is good for them and I like it as well. I do not use a yogurt maker, but I just scald my milk, add my starter and incubate it in my slow cooker on warm. It is good, and so easy it is just silly. I know I have had some flops with things I have made, but I seem to be getting better with stuff as I get older. I even made my own sourdough starter and bread.
@GardenGerty (160708)
• United States
14 Nov 12
That pineapple juice comment had me going. . . I wonder if they use it to make sour milk. I will have to run see what I used. Mine was not the "purist version" as I did use yeast to start it. You can buy commercial starter, or you can also mix your batter and let the yeasts in the air populate it, it just takes a little longer. I cannot find my recipe right this moment, for a non yeast starter mix one cup warm water with one cup of flour in a glass or plastic container, stir and put in a warm place. The next day discard half this mixture and add half a cup of warm water half a cup of flour, stir, etc. until you have a bubbly fermented liquid. Then store in the refrigerator and feed once a week with half cup warm water half cup flour. I would like to know about the one that uses pineapple juice. I also have a "brandied fruit" starter.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
14 Nov 12
The cats haven't shown any interest in yogurt, but Abby the pit/lab loves it!! She has a huge problem with whiskey farts and the yogurt has controlled them. Her gas was so bad that I had to keep a can of air freshener beside my bed to cover up the horrible smell. 
I swear that dog could clear the Empire State Building with one blast!!!
I'm going to ask Bill tomorrow how he makes his sourdough starter. I don't think he uses pineapple juice for it though.
I swear that dog could clear the Empire State Building with one blast!!!
I'm going to ask Bill tomorrow how he makes his sourdough starter. I don't think he uses pineapple juice for it though.1 person likes this
@habibti320 (925)
• United States
14 Nov 12
What'd you use to make your sourdough starter? I wanted to do that before, but didn't have pineapple juice at the time...
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
13 Nov 12
Ohhh, homemade yogurt, yummy!!!!!!
and possibly my next investment...
I remember when I purchased a used ice cream machine at a garage sale and made my first batch, oh that brought back childhood memories when we would go camping with our church and the Saturday before camp was over, one of the families would make homemade ice cream for everyone. I think my most feared machine though, was the bread machine. I wanted so bad to make homemade bread, but afraid I'd mess up. So that is when I came here and got lots of helpful tips and even then my bread overflowed the top, (I need to add just a tad bit less yeast) and now I can make all kinds of bread..:)
and possibly my next investment... I remember when I purchased a used ice cream machine at a garage sale and made my first batch, oh that brought back childhood memories when we would go camping with our church and the Saturday before camp was over, one of the families would make homemade ice cream for everyone. I think my most feared machine though, was the bread machine. I wanted so bad to make homemade bread, but afraid I'd mess up. So that is when I came here and got lots of helpful tips and even then my bread overflowed the top, (I need to add just a tad bit less yeast) and now I can make all kinds of bread..:)@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
14 Nov 12
Have you tried home made rolls yet? They are soooo easy and everyone in the neighborhood goes nuts over them. If your machine has a "dough" setting try the rolls. When the dough is ready you cut the dough and then form them into the rolls and allow them to raise for 45 minutes (make sure you cover them with a towel they don't like drafts). Then I bake mine at about 400 degrees for around 15 minutes...or until the tops are brown. I had to promise to make them for Thanksgiving.
Also, you can make your own doughnuts too. It's the same recipe as the dough for bread the only difference is that you fry it instead of baking it. The first time I made them they lasted all of three minutes...the neighbors loved them!!! I got to sample the doughnut holes.
I absolutely love my bread maker and I want to get a back up one just in case the one I have now breaks down. I gave a bread maker to the PAWN friend and she promptly gave it away. Now she is trying to big deal me into buying her another one...can you spell F-A-T C-H-A-N-C-E???? She has used me to get "gifts" for her family and friends at no charge to her...talk about a dumb broad (I'm referring to me), I may be a bit slow at times, but when I figure things out I pull the plug on the "supply line"!
Your best bet for the yogurt maker is Ebay. There are so many that people got for wedding gifts that they never used or figured out. My next search is for a yogurt maker recipe book.
I got to sample the doughnut holes.
I absolutely love my bread maker and I want to get a back up one just in case the one I have now breaks down. I gave a bread maker to the PAWN friend and she promptly gave it away. Now she is trying to big deal me into buying her another one...can you spell F-A-T C-H-A-N-C-E???? She has used me to get "gifts" for her family and friends at no charge to her...talk about a dumb broad (I'm referring to me), I may be a bit slow at times, but when I figure things out I pull the plug on the "supply line"!
Your best bet for the yogurt maker is Ebay. There are so many that people got for wedding gifts that they never used or figured out. My next search is for a yogurt maker recipe book.1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I have made rolls a few times, but not with my machine. I make challa bread (a braided bread for Friday Shabbat), every week and I also made doughnuts, again without my machine, for Hanukkah. This year I am making glazed as well as filled, because my son doesn't like filled doughnuts..
Yep, I agree, FAT CHANCE on getting your friend anything but a cold shoulder..LOL
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
14 Nov 12
Yes we have Kohls out here too, I bought two pairs of jeans for my son that originally would have cost me over 80.00 and with the sale price and the 10.00 card, I got them for only 30.00...
I hear you, trying to keep it going, just try to not fall into a trap with this woman. If in doubt, PM or call me and I'll tell you if it is something worth your time/money..
I hear you, trying to keep it going, just try to not fall into a trap with this woman. If in doubt, PM or call me and I'll tell you if it is something worth your time/money..
@topffer (42156)
• France
13 Nov 12
I eat a lot of yogurts, but I never had the idea to make some myself. Your experience gives me the wish to try a yogurt maker and to see by myself it it is "like the fourth of July" and if they are really better than those in the stores
. Thanks to share this lyric "Ode to the yogurt maker"
. I don't know why, but I remember better the defeats than the victories, and they are too tragic to be confessed
.
. Thanks to share this lyric "Ode to the yogurt maker". I don't know why, but I remember better the defeats than the victories, and they are too tragic to be confessed.@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I was lucky with this first batch of yogurt. But your mentioning defeats reminds me of when I was a teenager. I would have my boyfriends come to dinner, that I made (by the age of 15 I was cooking gourmet meals and receiving raves from my parents friends when they came to dinner. They couldn't believe that I cooked the dinners!). Of course when you're a teen you are very emotional and having everything perfect is an extremely emotional situation. Well for the dinner I made chicken with wild rice dressing, peas in a delicate cream sauce, potato's ah gratin, and home made bread. For dessert I made a lemon pie with whipped cream topping. I made it from scratch...from lemons from our garden of course. I made the filling according to directions and chilled the pie. After dinner I served the dessert and it failed miserably! I took the piece to my parents and my Mom, in her inevitable way, spouted: "What is this? Barf on a crust????" I was crushed and in tears!!! It took weeks before I cooked anything again, and of course my parents suffered because they had to eat my Mom's cooking which wasn't exactly the best.
Of course, as a teenager I soon realized that I had the upper hand when it came to my parents. Since I did all the cooking if they didn't keep me happy I would serve their food one of two ways, either semi raw or I would treat them like Greek Gods and serve them burnt offerings. 
@NailTech (6874)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I saw a guy buying a used yogurt machine one time a the thrift store and was sad that he got it before me. LOL. But I do have an ice cream maker that I have used, I wouldn't say that I love how the ice cream turned out but I should try it again one time. I am not that adept when it comes to making yogurt myself, the same with marshmallows. I wanted to make those too but the directions are so "complicated" in ways. I even taped a segment on TV on how to make those in case I want to challenge myself, one day haha. I might just get the courage up who knows. I'm glad your yogurt came out so delicious. Did you have to add alot of sugar? I prefer Greek yogurt cause it's thicker and has more protein, but you have to eat more than I normally do at once to get that all protein too. How about fruit? I like blueberry and other kinds but they have alot of sugar in them. I mostly like plain these days, so I can add it anything I want to it, I just can't eat it plain though.
@habibti320 (925)
• United States
14 Nov 12
You don't need a yogurt maker to make yogurt. I learned from a website and it wasn't too difficult. Even better, I could try it without wasting money on materials that I might not use again! Mylot won't let me paste the link but if you message me, I can send it to you!
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
13 Nov 12
great idea... yogurt it great. I think to have some with nut son top please. You can do so many diff. kinds.
@lambchaps (2)
• United States
14 Nov 12
i think its a marvelous idea.... but since as someone is making it can like Oreo be added. just an idea
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I love blueberries and that is what I added to my first batch of yogurt, along with coconut. With the love affair I have with the yogurt that I made, I am going to use the daylights out of the machine. I keep thinking of different things to add, like peaches, pineapple (humm, more coconut!), fresh strawberries....I just ate a jar of my yogurt and just thinking about the next batch has me drooling and wanting to eat another jar of this batch!
@dreamweaverjan (3471)
• United States
16 Nov 12
Hi there Loverbear, Remember me?? Yeah I know its been AGES since I was on here;
I loved reading about your Yogurt experience. Sounds Great to me!!! I am always trying to find one that tastes good. They've all changed so much.
Hope to be back on here more soon sooooo much has been going on in my life.
take care!!
@Youreyes4Today (2356)
• United States
14 Nov 12
Oh I love how you wrote out the way you found a yogurt machine, how you finally made a batch and with anticipation the description of getting that first taste from the maker to the mouth.. lol
Happy that it worked out and it was so enjoyed. I try and explain to my kids that homemade, is better especially if you take the time and do the recipe's the way they are written. You will wonder into a new world of tastes..
@habibti320 (925)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I remember when I first learned how to make yogurt! I was so proud of it and filled my freezer with jars of it, as well as the kitchens of family and friends!
The method that I used did not require any special equipment. Jars, a big pot, and a cooler were all I needed :)
I haven't gotten around to doing it anymore. I go through phases of making things at home. Chicken broth, paneer, water kefir, pickle...it's a lot of fun!
Glad you are enjoying your new hobby!
